Winnipeg, MB, June 15, 2026 – White Otter Biotech is pleased to share that in partnership with Scotia Mine Ltd. (a subsidiary of EDM Resources Inc.) and Strum Consulting, it has received $50,000 in funding from Genome Atlantic under the Genomics in Mining Innovation Fund (GMIF). This will advance a $110,000 1-year research project focused on validating new genomics-based turtle survey tools.

Mineral exploration and resource development is accelerating across Canada. This is creating a growing need for efficient and effective ways to protect endangered wildlife while supporting increased resource development. These needs are compounded by narrow seasonal survey windows, limited survey capacity, and growing pressure to expedite regulatory assessment and approval processes.

This project aims to develop and validate a genomics-based Wood Turtle occupancy assessment tool to complement and strengthen conventional turtle surveys. By measuring ratios of turtle environmental RNA (eRNA) and environmental DNA (eDNA) detected in bodies of water in parallel with field observations, recent turtle activity will be modelled. This will reduce dependence on narrow seasonal survey windows while supporting accurate environmental monitoring and regulatory decision-making.

White Otter Biotech will collect environmental water samples from the Gays River near the Scotia Mine project area in the Halifax Regional Municipality. In parallel, Strum Consulting will conduct visual encounter surveys for turtles and provide field-based observations and habitat assessments that serve as ground-truth data for the study. White Otter Biotech will conduct genomics-based analyses and modelling to integrate the two datasets.

With this project, White Otter Biotech aims to validate new genomics-based approaches for wildlife monitoring to support faster project progression while maintaining strong, data-driven environmental protections.

About White Otter Biotech
White Otter Biotech is a Winnipeg-based biotechnology company specializing in environmental genomics. The company develops innovative molecular tools to detect and track biodiversity, enabling efficient, accurate, and scalable assessment of wildlife and fish populations. White Otter Biotech collaborates with partners from industry, academia, and conservation organizations to deliver solutions that enable economic growth with strong environmental stewardship.

Contact information
info@whiteotterbiotech.com